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Schools are turning to students to help solve problems in
the schoolyard and the classroom - and the results are making
schools a safer place to be.
Schools are turning to students to help solve problems in
the schoolyard and the classroom - and the results are making
schools a safer place to be. |
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Peer Mediation and Peer Support programs have been set up
in many schools around the world in the past decade in an effort
to have students confide in each other and feel more comfortable
in school.
At PGHS the program has been running for seven years, according
to Year 11 student Hayley Gillman. "We resolve problems
at school that other kids are having," she said. "Last
year we solved a fair few."
At PGHS four senior students are involved in this year's program
- Hayley, Susan Arbon, Natasha Marchioro and Samantha Walters.
All are in Year 11.
Hayley said a book is kept in the Student Services Office
where students write that they need to see a mediator. The book
is checked every morning and appointments made.
Students can discuss most things with mediators - except issues
involving physical violence, drugs, weapons, severe racism and
non-school conflicts and abuse. By law, these types of issues
must be referred to a teacher.
"We just mainly sit down in a room with the people involved,"
she said. "We ask them about the issue, like why they choose
to be a bully."
"If we can't resolve it then we pass it onto (staff coordinator)
Ms Manno or the class teacher."
Ms Manno said the program was gaining popularity among students.
"Mediation is a way of people resolving disputes without
going to a teacher," she said
"The mediator does not take sides but encourages an environment
of respectful communication and exists for people to find creative
and constructive solutions to their conflict."
Hayley said that "nothing goes back to the teacher"
unless the mediators are unable to deal with it. Mediators learn
their skills through Peer Support. "We need students to
know and trust us so they feel comfortable coming to us,"
she said.
"That's what we are trying to do at the moment…
find ways to publicize ourselves." |
